Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"...yes, Carver. Of course you should be grieving after what you went through. You should be crying, you should shout at objects and need to run and hide in your room and... feel bad. Trying to not, to push that away or skip it will just make it stronger when you finally can't delay it anymore." Varric winces a little, stepping back to lean against the desk. "...or maybe you manage to bury it and it rots instead, sending poison into your life. That's... that's what my brother did. He never let himself..."

[Carver Amell]

But Carver's already shaking his head. "No, I can't do that to Beth. I... In here, maybe I can cry or, or whatever. But not out there. Not in front of her."

[Varric]

"That's... your choice. But... just be careful not to seem like you didn't care. Or that... just make sure she knows you are grieving, even if you hide a bit of how bad it is," Varric suggests. "Find something you can channel your emotions into, something healthy and made productive. If you don't want to learn to fight just yet, until you've gotten some control back, maybe taking up conditioning instead. Start running or swimming. Pick up a craft hobby. Wood carving might work well for you, given how good you are with your hands. Or just carpentry if you prefer something more practical. Though there's something to be said about being able to give hand-make gifts for when you get around to courting."

A pause. "I've observed that people get... miffed if you give them practical stuff, unless it's the second part of a gift that's nicer."

[Carver Amell]

Carver hesitates. "I think.. some woodworking, yeah, but maybe... if I could make her a bow, so she could protect herself without magic, maybe teach her some of how to shoot..."

[Varric]

"She's tolerable with a dagger, okay with a staff but... she has to devote a lot of time to her magic, given the duality of it But...." The dwarf thinks a moment, then nods. "If you can do the wood parts and such, I could help you put together a light crossbow for her. Slower to use, but easier to aim, she should be able to pick it up."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Okay. Yeah. We'll, we'll do that." A brief pause, then another small nod. "Thanks."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene had been bad again. They knew it wasn't a good idea to skip meals, only, they'd been so engrossed in research in the library, they hadn't noticed time passing. They had almost teased out the secret of the identity of the elder, disinherited son of Founder Beauregard; there was evidence to suggest he was the one who later changed his name to Sandra deBeaurs, which would mean that in the present day, Joseph Jones had a legitimate claim to the Founder title now that the Beauregard line was extinct. Certainly more legitimate than Susan Beauregard, who changed her name after asserting that her mother was a bastard of that bloodline, something there was no evidence to back up. The mystery wouldn't have appealed to Helene so much if it wasn't for this wild theory -- and they had a hunch they knew which books might have reference to Sandra soon enough to the conflict to drop little hints if she was, in fact, a gender nonconformist of some kind.

It was maddening. The hints were there, but not the solid proof Helene would have wanted. Probably nobody will ever hear of this, or care, except Helene. Realizing this, realizing that they can't prove it and they don't want to shake up the landscape, caused a deep sadness to well up inside them. It was almost loneliness, except that Helene had never had or wanted friends, not as an adult.

Seeking Alydra for comfort, Helene closes their book and wanders upstairs into the sanctuary.

[NPCs]

As they walk towards their destination, the samsaran passes by a small cluster of gossiping novices. "-eventually had to let him go but can you imagine? Wiped out an entire village, some three hundred souls."

"Milly, you shouldn't just propose a judgement without supporting evidence. I'll grant you that the elder Tethras brother has a lot of circumstantial evidence implying... ill character, but it's pure speculation to assume the younger brother is the same."

"Besides, being a smuggler or whatever isn't anything like demon summoning."

"I'm just saying, it's really suspicious that that held this guy for over a month and then let him go without a word," the first voice says defensively. "Personally, I wouldn't have stayed in Nyra, if I was him."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene hesitates, pulling back. Now doesn't seem like a good time to pray -- and their doubts about their guidance to Varric have begun to worry at the edges of their mind, making them feel worse. They'd heard news, here and there, bits and pieces. They were so sure Alydra had sent Varric to Golden Shores for a reason, but this.. this doesn't seem like it worked out well for him. Wasn't this meant to be a reward? They had thought they were making him rich by sending him to this mine, in thanks for his help. They hadn't thought they were ruining his life. 

They creep back into the library, staring at their feet, trying to take up as little space as possible. They pause, frozen in place ,as they spy the very object of their worry sitting at a table, paging through a book. Too exposed, he'll see me any second now, what do I do?!

[Varric]

"Deep breath. Focus on the feel of your robes. Deep breath," Varric says automatically, still reading. Wait. Blinking, he looks up, seeing directly what he'd noticed subconsciously. "Q&A! Good to see you, have some time to chat?"

[Helene Dakesh]

He's not angry. He's not angry? He's not angry!

A smile creeps across Helene's face. "Of course. This one is always available to Mr Tethras." They bow, a sincere, deep bow, before heading for the table. "How can this one be of assistance?"

[Varric]

"Make another go at losing the 'Mister' maybe?" Varric says, a smile on his lips as he teases them.

[Helene Dakesh]

Their cheeks darken slightly. "Of course, my apologies, Tethras." They give another quick bow before moving to sit at the table. 

"This one is pleased to receive word that Tethras has returned to the fair city of Nyra once more, his time of exile ceasing."

[Varric]

Varric tilts his head to the side. "It... it wasn't that bad really. I mean, the village itself was he-" He flinches, just a little. "I missed the city, any city, but it wasn't all bad. Some good people there. I uh, well, moneywise, the venture was... mixed, though future prospects look upwards. But on a personal level... I may have sorta adopted some kids?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Things click into place for Helene. They straighten a bit, a small, inner fire lighting in their eyes. "Oh! This one understands. What is needed? Does Tethras have enough diapers? Playthings? Books?"